Back to: Tamil Nadu Class 11 English Guide & Notes
Table of Contents
Introduction
This poem talks about taking pride in who we are, no matter how humble our position may be. We all have our own journey to go through and our own goals to reach, even though they might feel small. We should do everything we undertake with dignity and courage and contribute in our own way to the progress of humanity. The poem is 28 lines long and divided into five stanzas. It does not have a set rhyme scheme.
Stanza 1- 2
We are proud and feel so tall, Our virtues though be few and small Our nature it is that whatever we try We do with devotion deep and true. Defeat we repel, courage our fort; Cringing from others we haven’t done, To seek a gain we adore none: We are proud and feel so tall.
The poet says that we are proud and feel so tall. Though our virtues may be few and small, it is our nature to do whatever we try with deep and true devotion. We drive away defeat, and courage is our fort or specialty. We have not acted in an excessively servile way to others. We do not worship someone just so we can profit off them. The poet again emphasizes that we are proud and feel so tall. Feeling tall stands for feeling proud. We must not only be proud of who we are, but we must also feel this pride and confidence in ourselves.
Stanza 3- 4
We deem it our duty and mission in life, To bless and praise the deserving ones; Never shall we fail in what we commit, Shall nourish the ones that nourish the world. We are proud of the position we Hold; humble as we are, Our pride springs from the way we live. Ours is a path of dignity and honour, A life that knows no kneeling and bending. We are proud and feel so tall.
The poet says that we consider it our duty and mission in life to bless and praise the people who deserve it. We shall never fail in what we commit to and we shall nourish the ones that nourish the world. This means that we will help the growth of people who shall help the world advance and grow. We are proud of the position we hold. We may be humble but our pride comes from the way we live. The poet says that ours is a path of dignity and honour. We lead a life that knows no kneeling and bending, or acting submissive to people. He repeats that we are proud and feel so tall.
Stanza 5
Everest is not the only peak, Every hillock has a summit to boast! The height you reach is not that we care; He, who does not stoop, is a king we adore. We bow before competence and merit; The ones that are true and stand on their own Are really the ladder for the rise of Man. Honour is a property, common to all: In dignity and pride no one need to be poor. We are proud and feel so tall.
The poet states that Everest is not the only peak because every hillock has a summit to boast. This means that we all have our own personal challenges that we must overcome to reach the top. The poet says that we should not care about the height one reaches because every person who does not submit to difficulties is a king to be adored and admired. We bow before people who possess competence and merit. So, we respect people who are good at what they do and have good qualities. The ones that are true and stand on their own are the ladder for the rise of Man. Thus, honest people who are independent will help humanity progress. Honour is a property that everyone has, and no one needs to lack or be poor in dignity and pride. The poem ends by again repeating that we are proud and feel so tall.
Conclusion
This poem inspires us to do everything we commit to with pride and courage. Even little achievements have great value. We must stand strong and stay honourable and true. In this way, we will be able to succeed in our own lives as well as contribute to the progress of the world around us.
